Resilient wheel



n. w. MILLER.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.2, 149149.

Patent@ Nov. 29, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

R. W. NHLLER.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

APPLLcATloN FILED ocr. 2, 1919.

Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. W. MILLER.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

APPLICATIONFILED 00T. 2. '1919.

,1398.880. Patented Nov. A29, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

RE,SILIFIEIYVJ` WHEEL.

Specicaton of Letters Patent. Y

Patented Nev. se, rear.

Application filed October 2, 1919. Serial No. 327,868.

To all 'whom t may conce/m: 4

Beit known that I, lionnRr-VV. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing `at Wilmingtom'in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Resilient Wheels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apper-l tains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to wheels for vehicles and consists in the combinations and arrangements of elements hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the accompanying claims. y

The invention has for its purpose to provide a wheel of this type having solid tires and possessing a high degree of resiliency, vand which will readily withstand the wear and strain to which such wheels would ordinarily be subjected on vehicles.

The invention has for its further purpose to construct a resilient vehicle wheel wherein the resilient elements are of simple censtruction, inexpensive to produce, and which may be applied to or removed from position on the wheel in a simple and easily performed manner. y

Another object of the invention resides in having a resilient wheel in which the several resilient elements are distributed on the wheel in such a way that there will he Uniform wearing and strain on all parts, and in which said elements will be kept at all times in clean and proper working condition.

rlhe invention is disclosed by way of illustration in theV accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is aperspective view, partly in section, of the wheel.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a section of the wheel rim showing one of the resilient devices.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale of the wheel rim.

Fig. 4 a similar view showing one ofthe alining devices. p

Fig. 5 a sectional view taken on the lines 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 a sectional view taken on the line Le of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 a horizontal sectional on the line 7-7 0f Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 a detail view, in elevation, of one of the bearing blocks.

view taken Fig. 9 afdetail perspective view of one of the ball carrying membersof the alining device. K Y y Fig. 10 a detail view of oneof-the fastening members for an alining device.

Fig. 11 a detail perspective view of one of the supporting members, and

Fig. 12 a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 3.

, Referring t0 the construction in further detail'and wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the several views, the wheel consists of a rigid portion formed of the usual hub 13, having spokes 14, carrying the felly 15 after the usual manner, and said felly has itted thereon a metal rim portion (16 and 17) secured by the bolts 18 as shown (see Fig. 8).

'A pair of metal rings 19 and 20 are secured to the metal rim portion (16 and 17) by the several bolts 18 and said rings have radially disposed annular portions 21 and 22 form# ing a circumferential channel-way or space within which the resilient elements of the wheel are located.

The resilient portion of the wheel consists of a floating rim formed of a solid rubber or other tire 28 mounted on the ring 24 and said ring has inturned flanges 25 to `which are fastened the two side plates 26. Said plates 26 are connected to the ring portions 21 and 22 of the rigid wheel part by the two fabric strips 27 and therewith provideA the annular channel-way containing the resilient and alining devices, and said channel-way is effectively closed to excludek all foreign matter asshown.

The resilient medium for the wheel consists 0f a plurality of' cushion devices uniformly spaced around the wheel between the fixed wheel part and the'iioating rim, and between Veach two of said devices there `is vlocated 'an alining device disposed to keep the floating rim in operative position with respect to the rigid part of the wheel.

Each of-said resilient elements consists of two brackets or upright arms 28 supporting an axlek 29, preferably square in crosssection, and on which is mounted a metal bearing block 80 of that design clearly shown in Figs.v 3, 5, and 8. Each bracket arm 28 has a laterally disposed bearing portion 31 that rests upon the metal support 32 and which in turn contacts withr the rim portion (19 and 20).

Each metal support 82 has a flange 88, to

either side of which the brackets 31 are shown in Figs. 4, 6, 7,

per se consists of aninverted U-shaped brackets in position consists of two flanges 34 formed on the ring 32 (see Fig. 10) that receive the beveled edges 35 with a close fit; and a wedge 36 locked by a pin 37 securely holds the bracket in position. The locking f pin 37 is provided with a plurality of Vopenings 38 whereby said pin maya itself be sef cured at the proper adjusted position when the device'is being set up.

The Vbearing block 26 is of substantially cylindrical shape and is formed with two sets of semispherical recesses 39 to receive the cushioning balls 40 constructed, preter-` ably of rubber. rlhere are eight of said depressions in all, arranged-four on aside and in alternate or offsetting relation after the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 5, whereby tol dispose the cushion elements in a manner best conducive to obtaining maximum efficiency from the resilient device as. a whole.

The several balls 40 of each resilient device are inclosed within a ring or open cylinder 41 which closely fits said balls and holds the latter firmly seated in their respective pockets, and said cylinder or` ring 41 `is in turn secured to a ring or band 42 that lits` closely against the inner surface ot the ring 24 throughout its circumference as shown (see Figs. 3 and A second ring 43 is secured to each of the several rings 41v at their innermost points 44 (see Figs. 3 and 5) and said ring 43 is spaced an appreciable distance beyond the outermost part'32 of the rigid wheel portion. lt is understood of course Athat each of the several resilient elements is constructed in accordance with the details of the device just described.

The several alining devices are disposed alternately with the resilient elements tor obvious reasons and each alining device is constructed substantially after the manners and 9. Said device bracket 45 whose side portions `46 arey secured to the outermost rim (16 and 17), and said side portions 46 are formed with inturned flanges 47 to receive the bearing blocks 43 (see Fig. 7 and said bearing blocks are rigidly secured by wedge 49 havinn` a tightening key 50. T he inner faceof said block 48 is recessed to forma series of spherical shaped recesses ladapted to receive the several anti-friction ball bearings 52 that contact with the inner side faces of the flanges 53 formed on the side plates 26 lof the floating rim (see Fig. 6).

lt will therefore be seen from the foregoing that the cushioning'elernent will give the required resiliency for'the floating wheel rim and that said rim will at all times work in true alineinent with thevrigid-'portion vot the wheel; and it will be further noted that i.

the several working parts will properly function under all normal conditions; that the same are inexpensive to produce and that the wheelas a whole may be readily set up or taken down without requiring any special skill. f

The invention is not to be understood as being limited-to the details of construction herein shown and described, as these` may be varied widely without departing from the spirit of the invention. Y Having thus described my invention,l what l -clairn as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: n Y f Y v 1. In a vehicle wheel the combination of a rigid wheel portion, a floating rim portion, and a sustaining medium interposed between elastic'balls, substantially as set forth. ,Y

2. In a vehicle wheel the combinationaof a rigid wheelportion, a floating rim portion,

resilient and separately mounted sustaining balls assembled in clusters and interposed betweensaid rigid and floating wheel portions, and means for holding said wheelelements and the resilient clustered elements in true annular alinement, substantially as set forth. f

3. In a vehicle wheel the combinationof arigid wheel portion, a floating rim portion, a plurality of blocks interposed between said rigid and floating wheel portions, and a plurality of annularly disposed and independent cushioned elernents interposed betweensaid blocks and the rigid and floating wheel portion respectivelyA substantially as set forth.

4. In a vehicle wheel the combinationof a rigid wheel portion, a floating rim portion, 4and. resilient devices interposed between said wheel and rim portion,l each of said devices comprisingja block supported hbyl the rigid wheelportion, a floating rim portion,

and resilientd'evices interposed between said wheel and rim portions, each of said devices comprising a block supported by the' rigid wheelV portion and ,provided with recesses, a

ring carried by the floating rim portion, and

a plurality of' balls of elasticl materialpinter-V .posed betweensaid block and theiing, substantially as set forth.

In testimonywhereof lfaflikimy signature in the presence of two witnesses. l I, .Y

iV 'i v BOBERT W. MILLER.

lllitnesses: y n f A A lHAs. E. Bronnen, CLINTON L. MARSHALL. 

